How to Write 靥 (yè) — Meaning “Dimple”

Imagine a face (面) that 'dislikes' (厌) being completely smooth, so it creates a little dimple. Or think of someone with a dimple saying 'yè' with a smile — the sound helps link to the shape.

First write the left radical 面 (9 strokes), then the right side 厌 (6 strokes). A common mistake is making the 面 too wide or forgetting the dot in the right part 厌 — that dot sits above the 犬 (dog) component. Keep both sides balanced.

笑靥 (xiào yè) means dimple or smiling face, often used to describe a beautiful woman's smile. 酒靥 (jiǔ yè) refers to dimples that appear when drinking, and 靥辅 (yè fǔ) means dimples on the cheeks. These terms are mostly found in poetry or literature.

靥 is a literary character, not used in everyday conversation. It appears in poetry, novels, or descriptive writing to praise a person's charming dimples. In Chinese culture, dimples are seen as a sign of beauty and luck, so this character carries a positive, elegant feeling.

Common words containing 靥 include: 笑靥 (xiào yè) — Dimple or smiling face; 酒靥 (jiǔ yè) — dimples (associated with drinking or smiling); 靥辅 (yè fǔ) — Dimples on the cheeks.